Pope Leo XIV has again sent humanitarian aid to war-torn Lebanon and Ukraine. The new papal almoner, Archbishop Luis Marín de San Martín, confirmed in a post on X that in recent days, a trailer containing medicines, food products, hygiene supplies, and clothing was dispatched to Ukraine, and 15,000 essential medicines to Lebanon. The Archbishop stated that “charity is the Gospel lived out”. He underscored the need to build networks and raise awareness on the reality of war, the needs it creates, and concrete ways to help those who were suffering.
According to Vatican News, the shipment to Ukraine departed on April 25 from the Ukrainian Greek Catholic basilica of Santa Sofia in Rome. The church’s rector, Father Marco Semehen, said that the needs of the sick and the children were particularly taken into account, and that the donations consisted mainly of medicines, family care packages, thermal blankets, food, and clothing.
The medicine and essential items will be distributed through church networks and partner organizations to ensure that aid reaches those who need it most. Amid Lebanon’s ongoing economic crisis and the repercussions of the war in Ukraine, civilians in both countries are facing increasing hardship and shortages of basic necessities.